Pipe cleaner



w, 1939. c. J. KAISER 2,184220 PIPE CLEANER Filed Jan. 16, 1939 Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES m nt PATENT PIPE CLEANER Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,236

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe cleaning devices and more particularly to a cleaning device for cleaning smoking pipes or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a combination tool or article adapted for use with cleaning smoking pipes and also for use in sharpening knives or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pipe cleaning device which is adapted to clean the interior of a pipe bowl and which is so constructed that it may be readily adjusted to fit the interior of different sizes of pipe bowls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cleaner of this type which is provided with relatively rigid cleaning members which are adapted to be adjusted relative to each other, the cleaning members being adapted to be rotated on the interior of a pipe bowl and including a relatively keen edge which is engageable within the bowl so as to clean the bowl upon rotation of the device therein.

To the above objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations may be resorted .to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a pipe cleaning device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the dev1ce,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail front elevation of one of the cleaning members, and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 partly broken away of another of the cleaning members.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a cleaning element constructed according to an embodiment of this invention and the numeral ll designates generally a complementary cleaning element adapted to be secured to the cleaning element Ill and adjustable as will be hereinafter described.

The cleaning element It comprises an annular member or body I2 provided with an end wall I4 having a threaded opening I3 in the axial center thereof. The body I2 is provided with an elongated pipe cleaning arm I5 which is secured at one end to the annular member l2. The secured end of the arm I5 is disposed tangentially with respect to and is disposed adjacent to one side of the horizontal median of the body I2. The arm I5 from its point of connection to the body I2 extends inwardly throughout towards a line aligning with the vertical median of member I2. The arm I5 is substantially rectangular in transverse section and the opposite outer corners l3 thereof are relatively sharp and provide keen edge portions which are adapted to engage the interior of a pipe bowl so as to scrape the material off of the bowl. The free or outer end terminal portion I! of the arm I5 is formed throughout upon an inwardly directed curve and is adapted to engage the curved bottom of the pipe bowl so as to eiiect a cleaning of the bottom of the bowl upon rotation of the arm l5 within the bowl.

The cleaning member I I comprises an annular element I8 having an end wall I9 provided with an opening 2|] through whicha bolt or screw 2I is adapted to engage. The bolt or screw 2! is adapted to be threaded into the threaded opening I3 so as to hold the two elements IE and H together in adjusted position relative to each other. The annular member I8 is provided with an elongated cleaning arm or blade 22 of the same construction as the arm I5. The arm 22 is arranged relatively to the member I8 in the same manner as arm I5 is arranged with respect to member I2, but arm 22 is oppositely disposed with respect to arm I 5. The arm 22 from its point of connection with member I8 extends inwardly throughout towards a line aligning with the vertical median of member I8. The free or outer end terminal portion of the arm is indicated at 24 and it coacts with the portion I? of arm I5 for cleaning the curved bottom of the pipe bowl.

In order to tightly hold the two elements II) and I I in adjusted position relative to each other, the cleaning element In is provided with a toothed rack 25 which may be integral with the annular member I2 and project into the interior thereof. The annular member I8 is also provided with a toothed rack 26 which as shown in Figures 3 and 4 is adapted to engage the rack 25 so that when the bolt 2| is tightened, the two annular members I2 and I8 will be tightly held against rotation relative to each other.

The annular members I2 and I8 are offset laterally from one edge of the arms or blades l5 and 22 respectively so t-hat these blades will confront each other.

In order to provide a means whereby knife blades or like keen edged articles may be sharpened, I have provided spaced apart radially disposed ears 2? which are fixed to the annular member l2 and one or more disc-shaped sharpening blades 28 are carried by each ear 2'! and are rotatably mounted on a pin or shaft 29 which as shown in Figure 3 may have the opposite ends thereof upset so as to secure the pin 29 on an ear 21.

In the use of this device the cleaning blades or arms l5 and 22 may be adjusted relative to each other by loosening the adjusting bolt 2| sufficiently to permit movement of the two members l2 and I8 relative to each other. The arms or cleaning blades l5 and 22 are then moved toward or away from each other with the bolt 2| as a fulcrum so that these cleaning members will be able to enter the interior of the bowl.

The annular members 12 and I8 including the blades l4 and I9 constitute a handle by means of which the blades l5 and 22 may be rotated within the bowl and the keen edge portions or corners it and 23 of the blades 15 and 22 are adapted to scrape the material ofi of the interior of the bowls The arcuate portions l! and 24 have a curve similar to the curvature of the bottom of the bowl so that these members will thoroughly clean the bottom of the bowl at the same time that the plates 15 and 22 clean the side wall of the bowl.

In order to sharpen knives or like articles the knife is inserted between a pair of sharpening members 28 and pulled thereacross so that the edges of these members 28 will cut the metal of the blade and provide a keen edge thereupon. A pipe cleaning device constructed according to this invention can be manufactured at a relatively small cost and can be manufactured in such a size that it can be readily carried in a pocket or the like. In the event the cleaning blades l5 and 22 become dulled on their outer corners the blades may be readily sharpened by a file or other tool reestablishing the sharp corners on these members.

What I claim is:

1. In a cleaning device for tobacco smoking pipes, a pair of complemental oppositely disposed cup-shaped members disposed in inner facewise opposed relation, one being revolubly adjustable relative to the other, means for connecting said members together, said means providing a shaft for the said revolubly adjustable member, and a pair of elongated oppositely inwardly inclined cleaning arms of like form each having one of its ends integral with an edge portion ofan outer side edge of a member, said arms having free end terminal portions disposed upon an inwardly directed curve throughout.

2. In a cleaning device for tobacco smoking pipes, a pair of complemental oppositely disposed cup-shaped members disposed in inner facewise opposed relation, one being revolubly adjustable relative to the other, means for connecting said members together, said means providing a shaft for the said revolubly adjustable member, a pair of elongated oppositely inwardly inclined cleaning arms of like form each having one of its ends integral with an edge portion of an outer side edge of a member, said arms having free end terminal portions disposed upon an inwardly directed curve throughout, said'arms being of rectangular contour in transverse cross section, and each of said members being ofi-set with respect to one of the lengthwise edges of that arm with which it is integral.

3. In a cleaning device for tobacco smoking pipes, a pair of complemental oppositely disposed for the said revolubly adjustable member, and

a pair of elongated oppositely inwardly inclined cleaning arms of like form each having one of its ends integral with an edge portion of an outer side edge of a member, said arms having free end terminal portions disposed upon an inwardly directed curve throughout, the ends of said arms integral with said members being disposed tangentially with respect to and arranged below the horizontal median of said member.

4. In a cleaning device for tobacco smoking pipes, a pair of annular members disposed in inner facewise opposed relation, one being revolubly adjustable relative to the other, means for connecting said members together in opposed relation, said means providing a shaft for the said revolubly adjustable member, a pair of elongated oppositely inwardly inclined cleaning arms of like form, each having one of its ends integral with an edge portion of an outer side edge of a member. said arms having free end terminal portions disposed upon an inwardly directed curve throughout, and said members having coacting means for latching the revoluble member in its adjusted position.

CHRISTIAN J. KAISER. 

